Self-indexing ledger.



'No. 880,754. PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908.

J. Bi PERRINB.

SELF INDEXING LEDGER. APPLICATION FILED 001221, 1907.

4SHEIITS-SHEET 1.

H I I lnaen (01':

No. 880,754. I PATENTED MAR. 8, 190 8.

J. B. PERRINE.

SELF INDBXING LEDGER.

APPLICATION FILED 00121, 1907.

' 4 SHiETS-SHEET 2.

"Hill r wl m l t i 1 HI 1 M I l a" b .|'l| I" 1 I v l I a III v/ No. 880,754. PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908. J. B. PBB-RINB. SELF INDEXING LEDGER.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.21, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JOHN B. PERRINE. OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO .IAllIES E. PLEW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SELF-INDEXING LEDGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 3, 1908.

Application filed October 21. 1907. Serial No. 398.377.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, 'JoHN B. Panama, a citizen of the United States, residing at Valparaiso, county of Porter, State of Indiana,

ave invented a certain new and useful Iniprovement inSelf-Indexing Ledgers, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to lodgers, particularly of the loose leaf type, and has for its object to provide means whereby a ledger may be made entirely self-indexing regardless of the number and diversity of names or items which may be contained therein.

A further object of my invention is to so arrange a loose leaf ledger that a mis-placed leaf or the absence of a leaf can be detected at a glance.

Further objects of my invention will be made apparent in the following detailed description, while the distinguishing features whereby my invention is characterized will be understood from the definitions of my invention which are comprised in the appended claims.

A pref-erred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure Us a view showing a ledger opened at the first page; Fig. 2 shows the ledger opened at the page which separates the items which are classified under the letter J from the items which are classified under the letter K; Fig. 3 is a view of the ledger showing it opened at the page following that exposed in Fig. .2; Fig. 4 shows the ledger opened at the page which follows that hearing the name Krupp; Fig. 5 shows a ledger .opened at the page which-- follows that hearing the name Henry C, which appears in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 isan exaggerated view showing the edge of a partially openedportion of-the ledger, representing a main set of leaves, a supplementary set of leaves in-terposed'between two of the main leaves and a sub-suplementa'ry sct interposed between two leaves of the supplementary set. I

The leaves of t la main or primary sets are preferably made in two colors, the colors alternating so that a mere glance at the ex-' posed edges of the leaves of as'et will cause an emission of a leaf or mis-placed leafto be from the first to the last.

ledger shown there are twenty two leaves in detected. This same color scheme may be carried to the supplementary sets if desired.

Referring to the drawings, the leaves which have been marked A represent complete leaves which are intendedto serve as transfer records and of which there are at least as many as there are primary sets of leaves there bein one of the transfer record leaves between each two consecutive main or primary sets. Each of the leaves A, or one such leaf between each two main sets (if more than one such leaf be employed between two sets), is provided with a tab a which projects beyond the edge thereof so as to be exposed at the end of the ledger. These tabs are so arranged that when the ledger is opened at the first page the tabs he one below the other in a row extending across the length of the ledger.

represents a main or primary set of leaves. Each of these leaves has removed therefrom at the edge of-the ledger at which the tabs are located a section thereof; these sections decreasing progressively in length a main set and the sections which are removed therefrom are therefore preferably proportioned so that a portion b of each leaf equal indength approximately to one twentysecond of the len th of the ledger is exposed ,at the edge of t e ledger when all of the leaves are super-posed upon each other" The exposed portion 1)- of each of the leaves is intended to bear a main or primary designating character, as for example, the sheets arranged between the transfer record sheets which bear the tabs having the designating characters K and L are intended to bear the names of all items or persons beginning-with the letter K These designating characters may be placed upon the leaves in chronological order or in any other order that may be desired,.since, on account of the few characters which are exposed .at any one time, it is unn'ewssary to maintain any particular-sequence. In the example illustrated in the drawing, the ledger contains items or accounts relating to ersons, and the exposed portion b of the eaves are therefore marked with the surnames of such persons. Thus if the first account undcr the letter K be that of K; E. Knudson the name Knudson may be written upon the portion b of the first sheet of the set. If the next account he that of In the particular written on the exposed portion of the second sheet; this order, or any other order which may be desired, being therea ter continued.

It may happen, and it commonly does.

happen, that there will be a number of en tirely distinct accounts which will be identified upon one of the main sets by the same Whenthis ,occurs I designating character. make use of asupplementary set of leaves which is placed between the leaf having the designating character common to a plurality of accounts and the leaf immediately preceding it. In the ledger shown there are a number of accounts under the name Kelly.

Therefore, between the leaf containing the" I name Kelly and the leaf immediately preceding, (which in the example shown bears the name KrupplIinsert a supplementary setof leaves indicated by the-reference character C. The leaves of the supplementary set C are cut away at their edges 1n the same manner as the leaves of the main set in order that a portion 0 of each of the leaves of the supplementary set will be exposed at the same edge of theledger as the leaves of the other sets. In order that the exposed portions of the two sets of leaves may'not interfere with each other, the shortest section which is removed from any one of the leaves of the supplementary set should be at least as long as the section :which is removed from the edge of the main leaf immediately preceding. In fact,- the shortest section which is removed fromany of the supplementary leaves should preferably be lon er than the section which Is removed from t e preceding main leaf, as this will ermit the thumb or finger to be inserted eneath the exposed ortion of one of the main leaves so that thethe supplementary set are preferably formed exactly the same as the preceding portion of the main setof leaves beginning with the leaf immediately preceding 'the main'leaf which,

is followed by the supplementary set. Thus in the example shoWn,-the leaves of the set-l- C have their edges cut away in exactly the same manner as that portion of the mam'set} thename be inning with the leaf bearin Knudsen andending with the eafbearing the name"Kin Each-of the exposed portions cof the. sup%- Elementary leaves is intended to bear a esignating character which is subsidiary; to the. designating'character on" the exposed portion of the main leaf' immediately succeedin Thus the sections 0 may-he marked with t e given. names of different Kellys or with firm or company names including the oseall of the indices on,

Furthermore, in

: which on l the first Kelly who has been entered in 1 the ledger is the Kelly Brewing Company and therefore the words'fBrewing Co." are written upon the same leaf as the word Kelly, but at such a point that normally the leaf bearing the name"Krupp covers the words Brewim Co. The main leaf bearing the name Kelly therefore contains the account of the Kelly Brewing Compan The second Kelly account to be entered in therefore the lowest exposedportion c in the series is marked John B. The first supplemental leaf preceding the main leaf hearing the name Kelly therefore contains the account ofJohn B: Kelly. In the same way the succeeding leaves, of the supplementary set may contain the accounts of Kelly & Agnew, Mike Kelly, Henry C. Kelly, Patrick N. Kelly, etc.

It may be that still further refinement of indexing is necessary; in which case a second .set of supplementary leaves may be placed between one or more pairs of the leaves of the first supplementary set, these second supplementary sets bearing the same relation to the first supplementary sets that the first There ma be a number of different Mike Kellys, W10 have accounts, in which case -there will be placed between the leaf bearing the name Mike and the leaf bearing the name Henry CI a set of supplementary leaves designated by the letter D. The leaves of this last set have sections removed from their edges just as in the case of the other leaves so that a series of exposed portions (1 are presented at the edge of the ledger when the ledger is opened at thepage following that which bears the designation Henry 0. set are arranged so that the shortest section which is removed from any leaf is at least as longas, andproba'bly longer than, the section which is removed from the ed e of the leaf which bears the designation H enry GIT supplementary set interchangeable with the leaves of the other sets they are referably formed so as to corres 0nd exact ytoieth'at 1 down to the leaf which on the drawingbears the designation Patrick N., of the, first main set-down to that leaf of the'imain set i-fKam'pf v I The first account whichhas been opened State Stl'iis thereforeplacedfupon the leaf the ledger was that of John B. Kelly, and

supplementary sets bearto the main sets.

The leaves of the second supplementary In order to make the leaves of the second the "di awirig. bears the name .by a Mike Kelly is that ofthe- Kelly who lives in 121 State St. The legend 121 portion of the series of t 1e supplementary-set supplementary set, and the series ,of the 5 of'thefirst supplementar set-which bears the name Mike, prefera ly atsuch a point p i that the legend f 121'State St. iseoveredhy name Kelly/l 'Inthe arrangement shown! the leaf fofthe firstsupplementa 'yrsetwhic 3g bears the name Henry C. The second Mike Kelly to have an account is one living in 6240 Normal Ave. The legend 6240 Normal Ave, is therefore placed on the exposed portion of the first. leaf of the supplementary set immediately preceding the leaf bearing the name Mike. In the same way other leaves of the second supplementary set may be made to contain the accounts of other Mike Kellys who live in 2310 l-lalsted Ste, 951 63d St, etc. This same sub-divi sion of the index may be carried out to any desired extent by simply inserting supplementary sets wherever necessary; and this may be accomplished without it being necessary to keep in stock any considerable variety of leaves, since the leaves of each set are entirely interchangeable with the leaves of every other set.

Assuming that it is desired tofind the account of Mike Kelly living at 951 63d St; it is only necessary to open the ledger at the point following the transfer record sheet bearing the K tab exposing to View the sur-name Kelly in the column of names carried by the main set of leaves. The thumb may then be inserted beneath the lower outer corner of the indexed portion of' the leaf bearing thenameKrupp, thereby exposing all of the given names or firm names of the Kellys appearing in the first supplenientary set. The thumb or finger may then be shifted underneath the lower outer corner of the indexed portion of that leaf of the supplementary set bearing the name Henry C. thereby exposing to view all of the indices of the second supplementary set relating to the different MikeKellys. The index of the particular person who is sought is now in plain view and it is only necessary to open the book at the page which is marked 95b- 63d St.

Fig. 6 shows on the exaggerated scale all of the sheets or leaves exposed portions of which appear in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, said sheets or leaves being shown opened so as to form. progressively increasing angles with the back of the ledger.

Specifically considered my invention may be .said'to comprise a plurality of main or irimary sets of leaves, the leaves of each set having progressively increasing sections removed from con-responding edges so as to ex- )ose a portion of each leaf at oneedge of the ledger;. a transfer record leaf arranged between each two consecutive sets and having as-uitable tab which projects from the aforesaid edge of the ledger and bears a designating character or characters for one of the sets of leaves; supplementary or secondary sets of leaves arranged between as many pairs of consecutive' leaves in the main or primary sets as may be desired, and each set of supplementar leaves being exactly similar in size and s rape to a portion of that series of leaves of the main set beginning with the leaf of the main set lying above the adjacent leaf of the main set having the longer section removed from its edge; further supplementary sets arranged between as many pairs of consecutive leaves of the first.supplementary set as may be desired and bearing to the leaves of the first supplementary set the same relation that the leaves of the first supplementary set bear to the leaves of the main sets; this interposition of sub-supplementary sets being carried as far as may be necessary to give the desired degree of sensitiveness to the index. The exposed portions of the leaves of the main sets are intended to be marked with primary designating characters, as for example, the sur-names of persons. The exposed portions of the first sets of supplementary leaves are intended to be each marked with a designating character which is subsidiary to the designatingchar- 'ried any desired number of items may be indexed in such a manner that any item -n'ay be found by'a simple manipulation of the leaves of a ledger until the desired designating character is exposed to view and without requiring a tedious examination of a large number of indices. 3 I

It will be seen that the extent to which perfect self-indexing may be carried is not limited by the number of accounts but only by the. size of book beyond which it is impracticable. to go. Iiurthermore a book arranged in accordance with the present invention is thoroughly elastic so that leaves or sets of leaves need only be inserted when and where needed, it being tlu-u'eforcunnecessary to fill the book with a large amount of dead leaves on the assumption that such leaves may possibly be required in the future.

\Vl-icnever a leaf becomes lilled or an account covered by a leaf is closed, such leaf may be extracted from the book and placed in a suitable.- transi'er file, a record. being made on the proper transfer record sheet. In this way a record may be kept not only of the live accounts, but also of those which have been closed or transferred.

The leaves of each main set, and if desired of the supplemental sets, alsoare preferably of two different colors, leaves of one color alternating with those of another color. In

this way an omission of a leaf will be quickly detected, since there will appear in the-index,

1. In a self-indexing ledger, a set ofleaves' which have progressively-increasing sections removed from corresponding edges iso as to expose a'portion of each leaf at one. edge of the set, and a second set of leave's'jifiterposed "between two of the leavesof'thefirstl set, the

I leaves-of the second set'also having rogressively-increasing sections removed romcorresponding edges so that a portion of each lea of the second set is exposed at the edge .atwhic-hjthe sheets of the first set are exposed the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the second. set-being longer than the shorter'of the, two sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of the first set and the sections which are cut away from the remaining leaves of the second set being longer than the. longer of the two sections removedfrom-the two adjacent leavesof the first set. 2. In aself-indexing ledger, a set of leaves which have progressively-increasing sections removed from corresponding edges so as to expose a portion of each leaf at one edge-of the set. and a second set of leaves interposed between two of the leaves-of the first set, the

leaves of the second" set also havin' pro gress1vely-1ncreasing sections remove from corres on ding edges so that a portion of each,

leaf 0 the second set is exposed at the edge 'at;which the. sheets of the first set are exposed, the shortest section which. is removed from the leaves of thesecond set being longer than the shorter and at least as long as the longer of the sections removed from the two adjacent leaves-of the first set.

- 3. In a self indexing ledger, a set of leaves which haveprogressively increasing sections removed .from corresponding edges so as to expose a portion- .of'each leaf at oneedge of the set, and 'a second set of leaves interposed between'two of'the'leaves of the first set, the leaves of the secondset also havin rogressively inereasing sections removed being longer than either ofth'e sections removed from the two' adjacent leaves of the expose a portion of each leaf at one edge'of the set,'-a second set of leaves interposed be- 55 'tweentwo of the leaves of the first set, the

rom corresponding edges so that a portion of each leaf of the second set is exposed at the edge at whichthe sheets of'the first setv are exposed,- the shortest section which .isremoved from the leavesof the second set which have progressively-increasing sections removed from corresponding edges so as to leaves of the second set also having rogresslvely-lncreasing sections removed rom corlea at which the sheets of the first set are exosed, the shortest, section-which is removed om the leaves of the second set being longer than the shorter of the two sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of the first set,

and a third set of leaves interposed between the third set also having progressively-increasing sections removed from correspondthird set is exposed at the same edge as the leaves of the other sets, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of the second set. 1

5'. In a self-indexing ledger, a set of leaves removed from corresponding edges so as to expose aportion of each; leaf at one ed e of the set, a second set of leaves interpose between two of the leaves of the first set, the leaves of the second set also having progressively-increas'ing sections removed from corfes onding edges so that a portion of each leaf 0 the second set is exposed at the edge at which the sheets of the :first set are exthan the shorter and at least as longas the longer of the sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of tlie first set, and a third set of leaves interposed between two leaves of the second set, the leaves of the third set also having progressively-increasing sections removed-from corresponding edges-so that a portion of each leaf. of the third set is ex posedat the same edge as the leaves of the longer than the shorter of the sectionsgresecond set. I 6. In aself-indexing ledger, a set of leaves which have progressively-increasing sections -removed fromicorresponding edges so as to exposefaportion of each leaf at one edge of the set, a second set of. leaves interposed between two of the leaves of the first set, the

ivelyincreasi ng'- sections removed from corlea at which; the sheets of the first set are exe cm the leaves of the second set being Ion er than either of-thesectionsremovedfrom t e two adjacent leaves of the first .set, and .a

responding edges so that a portionof each of the second set is exposed at the edge.

in edges so that a portion of each leaf of the osed, the shortestsection which is removed rom the leaves of the second set being longer two laves of the second set, the leaves of.

third set being longer than the shorter of the which have .progressively-increasmg sections other sets, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the third set being moved from the twoadjacent leaves of the ilea'ves-of the second set also having progress -.resp'0nding edgessothat a-portion of each,

of the-secondset is exposed at the edge osed, the shortest section which isremove'dthirdstot leaves interposed between two Y 1 leaves of the, second set, the leaves of the.

third et as; having progressively-increasing" sections removed from corresponding edges so that a ortion ofeach leaf of the third set is exposet at the sameedge as the leaves of the other sets, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the third set being longer than the shorter of the sections removed from the two adjacent leaves-of the second set.

7. In a self-indexing ledger, a set of leaves which have progressively-increasing sections removed from correspond-ing edges so as to expose a portion of each leaf at one edge of the set, a second set of leaves interposed between two of the leaves of the first set, the leaves of the second set also having progress ively-increasing sections removed from corres onding edges so that a portion of each leaf of the second set is exposed at the edge at which the sheets of the first set are exposed, the shortest section which is re moved from the leaves of the second set 'being longer than the shorter and at least as long as the longer of the sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of thefirst set, and a third set of leavesinterposed between two leaves of the second set, the leaves of the third set also having progressively-increasing sections removed from corresponding edges so that a portidn of each lea of the third set is exposed at the same edge as the leaves of the other sets, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the third set being longer than the shorter and at least long as the longer of the sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of the second'set.

8. In a self-indexing ledger, a set of leaves which have progressively-increasing sections removed from corresponding edges so as to expose a portion of each leaf at one edge of the leaves of the first set, the leaves of the second set alsohaving progressively-increas- 1 ing sections removed from corresponding edges so that a portion of each leaf of the second set is exposed at the edge at which the sheets of the first set are exposed, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the second set being longer than either of the sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of the'first set,,and a third set of leaves interposed between two leaves of the second set, the leaves of the third set also having pr )gressively-increasing sections removed from corresponding edges so that a portion of each leaf of the third set is exposed at the same edge as the leaves of the other sets, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the third set being longer than either of the sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of the second set.

9. In a self-indexing ledger, a plurality of main sets of leaves, the leaves of each set havin rogressively-increasing sections removed rom corresponding edges thereof .so

moved from corresponding edgesso that a portion of each of the leaves of the supplementary set is exposed at the same edge as the leavesof the-other sets, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the secondset being at least as long as the longer of the sections removed from the two adj acent leaves of the main set.

10. In a self-indexing ledger, a plurality of main. sets of leaves, the leaves of each set havin fprogressively-increasing sections removed as to expose a portion of each leaf at the corresponding edge of each set, a complete leaf arranged between each two. adjacent sets, a designating tab on each of said latter leaves, and a supplementary set of leaves interposed between two of the leaves of the main sets, the leaves of the supplementary set also havin rogressively-increasing' sections removed tiom corresponding edges so that a rom corresponding edges thereof so.

mentary setis exposed at the same edge asthe leaves of the other sets, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the second set'being longer than either of the sec tions removed from the two adjacent leaves of the main set;

11. In a self-indexing ledger, a plurality of main sets of leaves, the leaves of each set having rogressivsly-increasing sections removed rom corresponding edges thereof so as to expose a portion of each leaf at the corresponding edge of each set, a complete leaf arranged between each two adj acentsets, a designating tab on each of said latter leaves and a supplementary set of leaves interposed between two of the leaves of the main sets, the leaves of the supplementary set also having progressively-more asing sections removedfrom corres )onding edges so that a'portion of each of the leaves of the supplementary set is exposed at the same edge as the leaves of the other sets, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of thesecond set being lon er than either of the sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of .the

main set, and a second supplement'ary'set of leaves interposed between two leaves of the first supplementary set, the leaves of the second supplementary set also having progressively-increasing sections removed from corresponding edges so that a portion of each leaf of that set is ex osed at the same edge as the leaves of the ot er sets, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the second supplementary set being longer than 130 either of the sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of the first snpplern entary set.

12. In a sell inclexing' ledger, a. plurality of main sets of leaves, the leaves of each set having progressively-increasii'ig sections re moved from cm'responding edges thereof so as to expose a portion of each. leaf at the correspmnling edge of each. set, a complete leaf arranged between each two adjacent sets, desigl'iating tabs arranged on said latter leaves at the same edge of the ledger as the aforesaid exposed portion of the leaves, and a supplementary set of leaves interposed between two of the leaves ol' the main sets, the leaves of the supplementary sets also having prr gressively-incrcasing sections removed from corresponding edges so that a portion of each of the leaves otthe supplementary set is exposed at the same edge as the leaves of the other sets, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the second set being at least as long as the longerof the sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of the main set.

13. In a self-indexing ledger, a set of leaves having progressivsly-increasing sections removed from correspondingedges so that a portion of each leaf is exposed at one edge of the set, and a second set of leaves interposed. between two leaves of the first set, said second set of leaves being exactly similar in size and shape to a portion of that series of leaves of the first set lying in front of said second set.

14. In a self-indexing ledger, a set of leaves having progressivelyincreasing sections removed from corresponding edges so that a portion of each leaf is exposed at one edge of the set, and a second set of leaves interposed between two leaves of the first set, said second set of leaves being exactly similar in size and shape to a portion of that series of leaves'of the first set beginning with the leaf of the first set lying above the adjacent leaf of the first set having the longer section removed from its edge.

15. In a self-inde xing ledger, a set of leaves which have progressively-increasing sections removed from corresponding edges to as to expose a portion of each leaf at one edge of the set and a second set of leaves interposed between two of the leaves of the first set, the leaves of the second set also having progressively-increasing sections removed from corresponding edges so that a portion of each leaf of the second set is exposed at the edge at which the sheets of the first set are exposed, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the second set being at least as long as the longer of the two sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of the first set, each leaf of'one set difl'eringin color from the adjacent leaves.

16. In a self-indexing ledger, a set of leaves which have progressive]y-increasing sections removed from c(, rresponding edges so as to expose a portion of each leaf at one edge of the set, and a second set of leaves interposed between two of the leaves oi the first set, the leaves of. the second set also having progressively-increasing sect-ions removed from cor responding edges so thata portion of each leaf of the second set is exposed at the edge at which the sheets of the first set are exposed, the shortest section which is removed from the leaves of the second set being at least as long as the longer of the two sections removed from the two adjacent leaves of the first set, the leaves of one set'being of two colors which alternate throughout the set.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN B. PERRINE. i Witnesses:

' WM. F. FRENDENREICH,

HARRY S. GAITHER. 

